Essex makes offer for Harrow school

With 16 parties interested in leasing space, the Town of Essex has made an offer to purchase Harrow District High School. The town will now begin negotiating with the Greater Essex County District School Board to close the deal. The town knows it was the only entity to submit a letter of interest after the board declared the property surplus, Tracey Pillon-Abbs, the chief administrative officer in Essex, said Tuesday, which was the deadline for the town to submit its bid. The town submitted its offer the week of May 8. The school board closed Harrow High at the end of June 2016, leaving Harrow without a secondary school for the first time in 112 years. Students were redirected to Kingsville District High School, with the Grade 7s and 8s, who had been brought into Harrow High to fill excess space, returning to Harrow Public School. The school sits on about four hectares of land abutting a town park and arena. Access to the park requires crossing school board property at the end of McAffee Street. The property includes a soccer pitch and baseball diamond. It also abuts fairgrounds owned by the Colchester South and Harrow Agricultural Society. In April, the town sought community interest in using space in the building. Apart from gym rentals, there were proposals to use it for a private school and housing. Until a permanent use is established, the town could rent out space to at least cover utility costs,